Sixth Grade Summer Reading Packet

SIXTH GRADE SUMMERREADING PACKETOver the summer, you will want to continue to read literature to maintain and strengthenliteracy skills. Attached are some activities you can complete to help you capture yourunderstandings. Bring any completed activities to your new teacher in the fall.Grade 5: RL Standards RL1 Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences fromthe text.RL2 Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text, including how characters in a story ordrama respond to challenges or how the speaker in a poem reflects upon a topic; summarize the text.RL3 Compare and contrast two or more characters, settings, or events in a story or drama, drawing on specificdetails in the text (e.g., how characters interact).RL4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative language suchas metaphors and similes.RL5 Explain how a series of chapters, scenes, or stanzas fits together to provide the overall structure of aparticular story, drama, or poem.RL6 Describe how a narrator’s or speaker’s point of view influences how events are described.RL7 Analyze how visual and multimedia elements contribute to the meaning, tone, or beauty of a text (e.g.,graphic novel, multimedia presentation of fiction, folktale, myth, poem).RL9 Compare and contrast stories in the same genre (e.g., mysteries and adventure stories) on their approachesto similar themes and topics.

Summer ReadingHereford Middle SchoolJune 1, 2019- October 1, 2019The Summer Reading Program at Hereford Middle School is designed to allow students opportunities for choice. Weallow students to choose from multiple text options and to choose from a variety of activities. These activities will helpstudents review skills taught during the 2018-2019 academic year so they are better prepared for the new year.We require students who participate to read TWO books and complete a minimum of TWO activities PER BOOK. Eachyear we encourage students to choose ONE text from the Black Eyed Susan Book List. The second title can be a bookfrom that list or a new book that is appropriate for their grade level.PARENT NOTE: WE encourage parents to select a book with their child to read this summer. Some books have contentor themes that are not suitable for all audiences. Please be involved in the book choices. We have offered multiple textchoices, so if you think one text isn’t a “great fit” for your child, feel free to substitute another option.The “Strive for 25” suggested book list has been uploaded with multiple, high quality texts from which to choose. OtherMiddle School text options have been linked as well. Parents and students can select a book for their reading abilities,interests, etc. from these lists or make a different age appropriate selection.After completing the reading, students can go to the Hereford Middle School website. The Summer Reading section hasdocuments for each grade level. Students activities review skills learned in the 2018-2019 academic school year. Thisrefresher will be beneficial for all students who choose to participate. Once you are in the site, you can examine thepacket directions and the 9 different options for responses. This year we are recommending that all students PRINTHARD COPIES of the activity packet.Students read TWO bookscomplete FOUR skill review activitiesand submit the hard copies to the 2019-2020 Language Arts teacher by October 1.Students have between June 1 and October 1 to complete their Summer Reading work.After October 1, 2019 no new student work will be accepted.Any questions or problems should be directed to:ksteinwedel@bcps.orgHappy Reading!Kathryn A. SteinwedelHereford Middle School Language Arts Department Chair

RL1 Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.Title of book:Author:Author:Brainstorm a list of the major characters from the novel you have read:Directions: Think about the characters you listed. Who is most important in determining the final outcome inthe novel? Place the character who is most important in determining the final outcome on the top rung.Who is least important to the final outcome? Place the character with the least importance on the bottomrung. Use your own judgment to place other characters/groups along the middle rungs of the ladder.Think about the character that you identified as being the most important to the finaloutcome in your book. Explain why this character was the most important. Use specificdetails and at least three quotes from the text to support your answer.

RL2 Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text, including how characters in a story or dramarespond to challenges or how the speaker in a poem reflects upon a topic; summarize the text.Title of book:Author:You are a graphic artist, and you have been asked to design a new cover for a novel. The authorwantsAuthor:the cover to attract the interest of kids while still reflecting the novel’s message ortheme and how the characters in the novel responded to challenges. In the space below, createa unique book cover for the novel that you have read. Your cover should reflect the novel’scentral message or theme and show how at least two characters responded to challenges.

RL2 Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text, including how characters in a story or dramarespond to challenges or how the speaker in a poem reflects upon a topic; summarize the text.Title of book:Author:Write a letter to the author of the novel explaining how your book cover reflectsthecentral message or theme of the novel.Author:,,

RL3 Compare and contrast two or more characters, settings, or events in a story or drama, drawing on specific details inthe text (e.g., how characters interact).Title of book:Author:Select two characters from the novel you have read. Compare the two characters byAuthor:completingthe graphic organizer provided.Character 1Character 2

RL3 Compare and contrast two or more characters, settings, or events in a story or drama, drawing on specific details inthe text (e.g., how characters interact).Title of book:Author:How did the characters’ similarities and differences affect the way the twoAuthor:characters interacted in the story?

RL4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative language such asmetaphors and similes.In the novel you have read, identify 3 exampleswhere the author uses some form of figurativelanguage like similes or metaphors. For eachexample, provide the information required inthe chart below.FigurativeLanguage Examplefrom NovelChapter& PageNumberType ofFigurativeLanguage(e.g. simile, metaphor)1.2.3.Title of book:Author:Author:Meaning

RL5 Explain how a series of chapters, scenes, or stanzas fits together to provide the overall structure of a particular story,drama, or poem.Title of book:Author:Author:The plot of a story is the events of the story. Usually the plot begins withan introduction tothe characters, setting and problem (exposition), followed by an increase in conflict (risingaction), a moment where the conflict is the most exciting and the main character changes insome way (climax), the conflict lessens (falling action), and the conflict ends (resolution).List the 5 most important events in the book you read. Then think about how importanteach event was to the outcome of the story. Rate the importance of each event on the right.Important Events in the BookRating5 Very important1 Not important1.54321543215432154321543212.3.4.5.Based on your analysis, which event had the largest impact on the plot of the story? Explainyour choice.

RL6 Describe how a narrator’s or speaker’s point of view influences how events are described.Title of book:Author:Pickone event from the life of one of the characters in the book you have read. DescribeAuthor:how the point of view of the narrator influenced your understanding of the event.,

RL7 Analyze how visual and multimedia elements contribute to the meaning, tone, or beauty of a text (e.g., graphic novel,multimedia presentation of fiction, folktale, myth, poem).Title of book:Author:Graphic novels contain cartoon-like drawings that tell a story and are published as aAuthor:book.Graphic novels rely on illustrations to help tell the story to the readers.Read a graphic novel of your choice. Pay close attention to the illustrations in thegraphic novel. Identify three places in the graphic novel where the illustrations addto your understanding of the story. Complete the chart below.Description of illustrations foundin the graphic novel that add tomy understanding of the storyPage # inthegraphicnovel theillustrationscan befoundExplanation of how the illustrations help me tounderstand the story better.

RL7 Analyze how visual and multimedia elements contribute to the meaning, tone, or beauty of a text (e.g., graphic novel,multimedia presentation of fiction, folktale, myth, poem).Title of book:Author:Explain why the illustrations in a graphic novel are important in helping the readerAuthor:understand the story. Use examples from the graphic novel you selected tosupport your answer.

RL9 Compare and contrast stories in the same genre (e.g., mysteries and adventure stories) on their approaches tosimilar themes and topics.Title of book:Author:Think about the novel you have just read. Identify the theme or lesson of the novel.RecordAuthor: the theme/lesson and your reasons for the theme/lesson in the thought bubblebelow.Now, think about a novel from the same genre that reflects a similar theme or lesson. Inother words, if you read a mystery book, think about another mystery book that youhave read that reflects a similar theme. In the box below, identify the second novel andexplain how it reflects the same/similar theme or lesson as first novel.

RL9 Compare and contrast stories in the same genre (e.g., mysteries and adventure stories) on their approaches tosimilar themes and topics.Title of book:Author:Author:Howdid these two novels approach the same theme differently? Usedetails from both works to support your answer.

List the 5 most important events in the book you read. Then think about how important each event was to the outcome of the story. Rate the importance of each event on the right. Important Events in the Book Rating 5 Very important 1 Not important 1. 5 4 3 2 1 2. 5 4 3 2 1 3